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Newt Gingrich, in Denver speech, says state and local leaders should embrace "Trumpism"

Former U.S. House Speaker says GOP needs to act in Congress or face losing power to Democrats

By Jesse Paul

The Denver Post

Posted:
07/21/2017 06:38:55 PM MDT

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich talks at an American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) annual meeting Friday, July 21, 2017 at the Hyatt Regency. The 44th annual gathering began on Wednesday and concluded Friday. Gingrich spoke about Trumpism, his new book, economics, and more. (Daniel Brennen / Special to the Denver Post)

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said state and local leaders should embrace "Trumpism," and he urged congressional Republicans to ensure legislative progress or risk losing power to Democrats come the 2018 elections.

"I think that making America great again has to be, in many ways, a state and local challenge," Gingrich said in a Denver speech on Friday. "How do we make Kentucky great again? How do we make Iowa great again? And inside the states, how do help Des Moines become great again, Louisville or a school board?"

Gingrich said that means emulating President Donald Trump's ways of cutting costs and using "commons sense," describing the president as possibly "the most effective conservative — functionally — in our lifetime."

The Georgian, who advised Trump's campaign and has worked with him since he took office, was speaking at the final day of the American Legislative Exchange Council conference downtown, a gathering of conservative lawmakers, thought leaders and lobbyists from across the U.S. His talk centered around his work trying to get the GOP and the nation as a whole to appreciate the president, touting his new book — "Understanding Trump" — a signed copy of which was given to everyone in attendance.

"This is a very deep, cultural fight," said Gingrich, who also made a failed presidential run in 2012.

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Gingrich, who called sanctuary cities "insane" and took swipes at CNN and The New York Times, reiterated warnings he has made in recent weeks about Republicans needing to make progress in Congress or else be ready to face the consequences, alluding to failed GOP efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

"In terms of legislation, the first six months weren't quite what we hoped for," he said. "... We need to decide a game plan (for) the team we have, not a game plan for the team we wish we had. We have to have very dramatic economic growth starting in the first quarter of next year."

If a tax overhaul or another major bill isn't signed into law, Gingrich said California Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat's leader in Congress, could replace Speaker Paul Ryan.

"We need to write the bill we can pass," he said, "not the bill we like. ... We are in a fight. We are going to be in a fight for eight solid years under Trump. It's not going to end."

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